Kufr & Shirk in Light of Qur’anic Teachings vs Modern Ideologies✍ Written by: Hamid Kamaluddin
(Translated from Urdu to English)
Humanism – A Complete Ideological Package
Humanism is not merely a philosophy but a comprehensive ideology that influences every aspect of life. People selectively adopt portions of it, yet eventually end up absorbing the whole framework. Over time, accepting this ideology becomes inevitable, especially under modern liberal and secular influences.
The Pressure to Normalize Kufr & Shirk
❖ Erasing the Concept of Disbelief
Humanism demands that:
- We stop labeling disbelievers as “Kāfir”.
- We no longer see disbelief or shirk as morally wrong.
A growing trend suggests:
“Respect every religion and never question anyone’s beliefs — this is what Islam teaches.”
This interpretation distorts the real teachings of the Prophets.
❖ Misrepresenting the Prophetic Mission
Some argue that:
- Prophets never warned anyone of Hell for disbelief or shirk.
- Their mission was only against social injustice, not false beliefs.
This revisionist approach contradicts the actual Qur’anic message.
Qur’anic Condemnation of Kufr and Shirk
The claim that the Qur’an does not condemn disbelief or polytheism is entirely false. The Qur’an repeatedly divides mankind based on belief and disbelief.
“Indeed, those who disbelieved from among the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein forever. They are the worst of all creatures. Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds – they are the best of all creatures.”
(Surah Al-Bayyinah: 6, 8)
This verse explicitly distinguishes between:
- Kāfir (disbeliever) – worst of creation
- Mu’min (believer) – best of creation
Role of Modern Media and Education Systems
❖ Focus on Social Crimes, Silence on Kufr & Shirk
Modern media and secular education:
- Focus heavily on corruption, smuggling, tax evasion, etc.
- Completely ignore the evils of disbelief and shirk.
Under humanist influence, disbelief is seen as a personal right, not a spiritual crime. The moral disapproval once attached to kufr is slowly being erased.
Need for Islamic Media & Education
Only when Islamic media and educational systems are established, will people truly understand the gravity of disbelief and shirk.
Children must be taught that:
- Denying Allah’s Oneness and rejecting Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a greater crime than corruption or social evils.
Loyalty & Enmity Based on Īmān
The Qur’anic message is clear:
- Friendship and enmity should be based on faith and disbelief.
He who believes in Tawḥīd shows loyalty to the Qur’an and the Prophet ﷺ.
Those who fail to condemn kufr and shirk are ignoring the divine mandate of division between truth and falsehood.
Conclusion
According to Islamic teachings, kufr and shirk are the greatest evils and cannot be overlooked. It is the duty of Muslims to:
- Understand the true mission of the Prophets.
- Align their loyalty with the Qur’an and the Messenger ﷺ.
Only then can they resist the ideological invasion of modern secular thought and remain steadfast on true belief.
